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Friday, November 30

Faced with an insurmountable list of things that needed to be done I did what any sane person would have done and ignored it. Instead I just got out some inks and sprays and spent the morning playing, getting messy and listening to some tunes.

Here are my creations:

Now I just need to lose that list long enough this weekend to spend some time turning these into finished projects.

Thursday, November 29

I've been having a play with the Tim Holtz Frosted Film. I read an article the other day about etching glass with chemicals and transfers and that's what made me think of using the Frosted Film.

I've decorated a jar using the Movers and Shapers Mini Bird and Cage dies.

There's lots of fluffy fibres around the top with a Whiff Of Joy charm attached.

Here's a close-up of the die cut, it's not just frosted, there's a sparkle to it too.

And a shot taken in the dark with the light reflected at the back through the die cuts. I've used a little battery tea light. I love these as I can leave them safely without worrying about the Branston Pickle causing havoc and burning the house down. They aren't toys but are suitable for older children so this would make a great teenagers gift, perhaps to accompany the usual request for money or vouchers!

Wednesday, November 28

I haven't joined in with WOYWW in weeks. Here's the desk as at this morning.

It looks almost a little clearer than normal, but then I realise it is missing two bags of pens that normally perch precariously on the top! At the front there's some new paper tape from Paperchase. They have a few selections at the moment that come in their own cute little dispenser. This set has purple and clocks, what's not to like?

The bathroom is virtually done and as you can see we have moved back into it. I just need to pick up some new floor tiles. My crafty, creative self says that I can cut and fit those myself. My practical self says that I can always get someone in if I make a total mess of it! I'm thinking of going with blue.

There's lots of house work to do, but I've woken up with a bit of a stiff shoulder this morning so I'm thinking a quiet day on the sofa with a vat of coffee and lots of crafting, anyone want to join me?

Tuesday, November 27

Memory wire is a great resource to have in your jewellery making supplies and also a good place to start if you're new to the craft.

The wire comes in coils that keep their shape and wind around the wrist to make a 'one size fits virtually all' bracelet. The beads can be secured by gluing the last one onto the wire or by turning the end of the wire to make a loop. The loop method also allows you to hang a charm or bead on the end for a finishing touch, as I've done in this case.

The beads are from Blue Moon Beads' 'PB&J' bead selection. Does that stand for peanut butter and jelly?
I've added metal beads and beautiful glass pearls from the Blue Moon Beads findings range for an elegant look. You can just as easily use beads with different colours and finishes for a more eclectic look and of course the bracelets make great presents!

I've got some ideas coming up over the next couple of weeks for great ways to use beads and jewellery findings in your holiday decor. You never know, at this rate I may even get myself all organised before Christmas!

Friday, November 23

Well, I've not got that jewellery project for you, yet, in the meantime I have a scrapbook page to share and keep reading for a giveaway too. I've combined some old but classic products with some new supplies to produce this.

The fabulous ribbon and ruffles are from a My Minds Eye Lost and Found Christmas pack which came out last Christmas (if not the Christmas before). I've updated them with the current trend for kraft cardstock, new Thickers and white Mr Huey spray. Love that 'Dorothy's shoes' style red sparkle.

Other older supplies include the papers from Making Memories and the big Dovecraft brads.

The little chipboard house is from Maya road, coloured with Barn Door Distress Ink and then made snowy with Picket Fence Stickles.

And now for the give away, in fact it's the first in a series of Craft Retro Classics that I have to give away. There's a whole pack of the ribbons I used for my project plus some extra ribbon, flowers and a seasonal stamp.

To enter the giveaway please enter your link up details in the inlinkz below. Once the inlinkz finishes I'll pick a random winner and get the package in the post asap and I will post it to anywhere in the world that the winner requests!

Monday, November 19

Earlier this month I heard the amazing news that I had made it on to the Blue Moon Beads design team! As you can imagine, I was thrilled and the box of wonderful products I have been sent will be a pleasure to work with. Here's my first project.

These golden findings are so lovely they shouldn't be hidden away.

Instead I've made a feature of the t-bar clasp and and made sure the head-pins are on show too.

Blue Moon have some fabulous tins of bead mixes available, so there's no worry about finding co-ordinating colours. All of the beads in this necklace are from the Rum and Raisin tin.

I'll be back later this week with a project for anyone new to making jewellery which makes a great quick gift idea too.

Friday, November 16

Over who was going to stand in the bath!!! Yes, I've had 2 workmen discussing who got to stand in my bath this morning, aren't I lucky! The shower fitter won, so the tile fitter has to come back tomorrow. Only thing is the shower fitter was done in an hour and now there's no-one here at all!!!

The peace and quiet has been good for me though. I have loads of images stamped ready to colour at my Mum's tomorrow and I've started on a major new jewellery making project, watch this space.

Thursday, November 15

Half-way through November already! I have my 1st Christmas craft fair of 2012 next week, the time is going too fast. I've ignored the noise and the dust and ploughed on to get my mid-month 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' project for By The Cute And Girly completed. Our digital sponsor this month is Crafts And Me and I've used their Irish Christmas image to make a card and book mark set.

She is coloured with Copics, but spot the deliberate mistake?!?! I didn't look at the coloured images online before I inked her and I thought she was wearing a fluffy little bolero top and leggings, but the images on the website show its an off the shoulder leotard, I did laugh when I compared the two images, but I still think she looks OK.

Here's a close-up of the colouring and it also shows the 'fluffy' glitter I used to decorate the trim on her outfit.

The papers are all by Kaisercraft and were in a 6x6 pad free with this month's Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine, I just couldn't pass that one by on the shelves. I've added some DCWV glitter card for an unusual Christmas colour combination of black, purple and green, which by absolute coincidence is the theme for this week's challenge at Crafts and Me!

The bookmark is made with all is the same supplies and, of course, the beauty of the digi stamp is you can shrink it down really easily in a word document to any size you want. I coloured he exactly the same to match the card.

Friday, November 9

.........................Just slip a sable under the tree
For me
Been an awful good girl
Santa Baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight!

Tag created for the Little Darlings Saturated Canary contest. I've used the Circus Trixie stamp and coloured her with Copics. The papers on the tag are from MME and the mini poinsettia is from Wild Orchid Crafts. There are lots of old supplies on there - the lace, mini tag and hat brad were all presents last Christmas and the letter stickers are old BoBunny ones plus the word sticker from Authentique.

Thursday, November 8

They do say that crafting is a lovely calming hobby that makes a great distraction and I'm certainly finding that. I've been busy crafting for various design teams and commissions as well as planning a seasonal makeover for my blog. In the meantime, here's one I prepared earlier but couldn't share until now.

The beautiful stamp is from Imagination Crafts and is called Beaded Butterfly, currently in the half price sale - bargain! I've stamped it onto a piece of cream cloth and then coloured it with Copics. Using a cloth piece instead of stamping directly onto the bag had a couple of advantages, one of which was that I could test my Copics on a scrap to see how much they would bleed. In this case the darker pigments were the worst, so I just dotted BV04 on very cautiously for the darkest colour then moving outwards with BV02 and BV00.

With a name like Beaded Butterfly I just had to add some beading! To finish off I frayed the edges of the fabric piece and then sewed it to a pre-made Hobbycraft bag including a few extra black see beads - another advantage of sewing on to a scrap - I could hide all my beading stitches behind the panel. Here's the finished bag.

Tuesday, November 6

Back from a lovely seaside holiday with the family over half-term with lots of pictures to share and to scrapbook.

On a sad note though, the Hairy Horror (that's the dog, in case it's not clear) died at the weekend. I'm missing having her about the place very much. I turn around to speak to her and just find an empty space. I've now missed two callers at the front door (one of which was a parcel from a very exciting new design team!) - no little friend there to bark and tell me that she had heard the doorbell when I didn't.

Thursday, November 1

Well that's it, it's officially November and we all know how quickly the weeks are going to fly by now.

The 1st of the month means it's time for a new challenge at By The Cute And Girly and our host, Tammy, has chosen 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'. Your inspiration could be to use stars on your project or you might make something with a nursery rhyme theme. I've gone for a bit of both.

The stamped image is 'Catching the moon' from Whiff of Joy, which I've coloured with Copics. The papers are all from Websters and the frame behind the gnome is cut with a Marianne die.

The edges of the card are distressed with gold wax rub and the golden snowflake washi tape is from Papermash. The little wooden stars are from Studio Calico and they have gold Glitz Stickles on them. Finally the 'twinkle' wording is from a Hero Arts stamp set.

Hop on over to the By The Cute And Girly challenge blog to see all of the design team's inspiration for you. While you're there check out our great sponsors this month and see what prizes you could have a chance to win!